History | Smithsonian

The Woman Who Signed the Declaration

Likely the United States' first woman employee, this newspaper publisher was a key figure in promoting the ideas that fomented the Revolution

The Story of an Astonishing Holocaust Diary

Hidden for 70 years, a new invaluable contribution to Holocaust literature—the diary of Renia Spiegel—was rediscovered inside a desk in New York

The Scars of World War I

One hundred years after the end of the bloodshed, one photographer finds personal connections to the war

Why John Leguizamo Is Invested in Sharing Latino History

His uproariously inventive one-man show, soon to be shown on Netflix, puts the story of a neglected culture center stage

What’s the Real Story of Blackbeard?

Recent discoveries cast a different light on the most famous—and most feared—pirate of the early 18th century

The True Story of Scotland’s 'Outlaw King'

Chris Pine stars as the Netflix film’s eponymous hero, who secures his country’s independence but leaves behind a tangled legacy

The Woman Who Signed the Declaration — The Woman Who Signed the Declaration

Likely the United States' first woman employee, this newspaper publisher was a key figure in promoting the ideas that fomented the Revolution

The Story of an Astonishing Holocaust Diary — The Story of an Astonishing Holocaust Diary

Hidden for 70 years, a new invaluable contribution to Holocaust literature—the diary of Renia Spiegel—was rediscovered inside a desk in New York

The Scars of World War I — The Scars of World War I

One hundred years after the end of the bloodshed, one photographer finds personal connections to the war

Why John Leguizamo Is Invested in Sharing Latino History — Why John Leguizamo Is Invested in Sharing Latino History

His uproariously inventive one-man show, soon to be shown on Netflix, puts the story of a neglected culture center stage

What’s the Real Story of Blackbeard? — What’s the Real Story of Blackbeard?

Recent discoveries cast a different light on the most famous—and most feared—pirate of the early 18th century

The True Story of Scotland’s 'Outlaw King' — The True Story of Scotland’s 'Outlaw King'

Chris Pine stars as the Netflix film’s eponymous hero, who secures his country’s independence but leaves behind a tangled legacy

8 minutes ago

How the Formerly Ubiquitous Pumpkin Became a Thanksgiving Treat

Based on a True Story December 2018

The True Story of the 'Green Book' Movie

November 20, 2018 8:00AM

How Voltaire Went from Bastille Prisoner to Famous Playwright

November 19, 2018 12:56PM

A Fresh Look at These Stone Tools Reveals a New Chapter of Ancient Chinese History

March 2, 2018 | Updated: November 19, 2018

The Garfield Assassination Altered American History, But Is Woefully Forgotten Today

November 19, 2018

Why a New Robin Hood Arises Every Generation

November 16, 2018

How Poetry Soothed a Nation in Mourning for John F. Kennedy

Innovative Spirit November 16, 2018

The World's First Synthesizer Was a 200-Ton Behemoth

November 15, 2018

How an Unremarkable "Brunch in the Forest" Turned Into the Thanksgiving We Know

Document Deep Dive November 15, 2018

W.E.B. Du Bois’ Visionary Infographics Come Together for the First Time in Full Color

More Recent Stories »

SmartNews Keeping you current

The Statue of Liberty’s Original Torch Gets a New Home

Paradise's Gold Nugget Museum Falls Victim to Camp Fire

November 19, 2018 4:58PM

Trending Today

Texas Will Finally Teach That Slavery Was Main Cause of the Civil War

November 16, 2018

Hamilton Family Heirlooms to Go on View at Philadelphia Exhibition

November 16, 2018

Authorities Recover Three Moundville Artifacts Stolen in Devastating 1980 Heist

November 16, 2018

Cool Finds

Mini Terracotta Army Unearthed in China

More SmartNews Stories »

U.S. History

ludwig eibl stillleben mit blumen und kürbis

World History

atelier de nicolas de largillière, portrait de voltaire, détail (musée carnavalet) 002

Archaeology

Ancient Chinese Tools

Featured History Videos

Malcolm X's Explosive Comments About Elijah Muhammed

An Up-Close Look at the Royal Regalia

This Major Military Operation Ignited the Vietnam War

Cyber Monday Announcemnt

Subscribe

Save 84% off the newsstand price!

First & Last Name

First Name

Last Name

Address 1

Address 2

City / State

City

State

Zip

Email Address

Enter your email address